Andy Strickland added a new wrinkle about what the NHL’s investigation involves, and a decision on Mike Babcock and the Oilers may be close.
The timing analysis by Strickland came initially. He thinks that once the Stanley Cup Final is finished, things will start to resolve between Babcock and Edmonton.
And now the new information. He’s hearing that a scenario involving Patrik Laine is part of the NHL’s inquiry.
It’s worth being careful here, and that’s all that was stated. The substance of that incident is not public, and the accusations being investigated have yet to be proven.
The procedure is finally coming to an end; that much is certain.
In his analysis, Strickland highlights a timeline as well as a new component for the review.
Edmonton’s coaching selection is made possible by a judgment.
This is the background. Elliotte Friedman stated that the league wanted a swift resolution to this investigation, which was requested by the NHLPA due to allegations connected to Babcock’s stay in Columbus.
The reason why timing is important is easy. The Oilers’ search for a new coach has been put on hold due to Babcock, and Stan Bowman has received a definitive response before the camp from the ruling.
The expectation has been leaning one way. A collection of insiders, including Friedman, David Pagnotta, Darren Dreger, and Jeff Marek, hinted that Babcock would be cleared and hired, with Frank Seravalli being the most outspoken opponent.
That discussion is resolved by the verdict. Everything around it is merely a prediction until it touches the ground.
A clearance, however, wouldn’t remove the sound. Jason Gregor was informed by an agent that a Babcock hire may lower Edmonton’s free-agent appeal, with customers expressing worry. Those issues aren’t going away with a ruling.
Here’s my reading, with the attention it merits. The league needs to make sure this is done correctly, not just swiftly. A recent tidbit about a player serves as a reminder This is a serious assessment, not merely a rubber stamp.
Clarity is required in Edmonton, and quickly. Any coaching timeline, though, must be surpassed by the procedure’s integrity. It would be a mistake to rush it in order to break the bench logjam.
The settlement is apparently almost here. Whatever it yields, it concludes one of the offseason’s longest-running stories.
What that judgment says determines the entirety of Edmonton’s coaching strategy.
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